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WASHINGTON, DC | A report by the American Forest & Paper Assn. (AF&PA) offers final data for the US paper and paperboard industry for 2009 and shows total production declined 10.6% from the prior year to 79.1 million tons.

“These results reflected the effects of the economic downturn on the paper and paperboard industry in the [US],” says AF&PA chief economist Dr. Stanley Lancey. “However, paper and paperboard production rebounded 8.6% versus a year ago during the first six months of 2010.”

The report, “2009 Statistical Summary of Paper, Paperboard and Wood Pulp,” shows US exports of paper and paperboard retreated 10.9% to 13.8 million tons in 2009. However, imports of these products fell further, down 20.5% from 2008 to 13.4 million tons, resulting in a positive balance of trade for this product segment. Lancey expects the trade balance to remain positive through the year.

American Forest & Paper Assn., Washington, DC, reports August boxboard production increased by 3.9% compared to August 2009 but dropped 0.8% from the previous month. Year-to-date production was up 4.2% over 2009. Total kraft paper shipments were 136.2 thousand tons, an increase of 7.5% compared to August 2009. Total year-to-date shipments rose 15.1% over last year. For the tenth straight month, containerboard production rose over the same month a year ago and posted the highest production amount since August 2008. Total production saw an increase of 195,400 tons or 7.0% compared to August 2009. Year-to-date 2010 producion has increased 9.4% over 2009.

Business Development Advisory, Marietta, GA, offers an in depth study of the packaging paper market. “North American Packaging Paper Study and Opportunity Assessment” is a 96-page report that contains 74 tables and charts plus analysis of a market that includes ten major application categories and more than 100 sub-segments. For more information visit www.bd-advisory.com.

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